Bridges will connect Brazil to Uruguay and Argentina 

Bridges will connect Brazil to Uruguay and Argentina  

One of the bridges will be 950 meters on BR-392 and will connect the cities of Porto Xavier (RS) and Argentina’s San Javier, on the Uruguay River 

In a meeting with the presidents of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, and Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva mentioned large projects to link the three countries, which can generate investments of approximately BRL 4.9 billion. The largest contribution will be BRL 4.6 billion, destined for the construction of a 600-kilometer gas pipeline in Rio Grande do Sul, to bring Argentine gas captured in the Vaca Muerta reserve, in the province of Neuquén. 

So far, the most advanced situation is the construction of a bridge between the city of Porto Xavier, in Rio Grande do Sul, and San Javier, in Argentina. The work is part of the 100-day plan of the Ministry of Transport and has become one of the priorities for the coming months. 

The company Coesa — Construções e Montagens S.A. was contracted by the Federal Government to prepare the basic, engineering and execution project for the construction work. Investments of BRL 222 million are foreseen and the service package includes the issuance of environmental licenses and expropriations that need to be made in the course of the future bridge. The National Department of Transport Infrastructure (Dnit) is awaiting the submission of documentation by the contracted company to issue the service order for the preparation of engineering projects and environmental studies. 

The bridge will be erected over the Uruguay River, on BR-392, and will be 950 meters long. Also 900 meters of access will be built by Brazil and another 500 meters on Argentine soil. Although this project is advanced, the conclusion is still distant, Dnit estimates that 1,440 days will be needed to perform this work, the equivalent of almost four years of constructive work.  

By: Santelmo Camilo